OH Bound - April 15

Well I'm mid-2nd week out with the trainer and things are still going great. Miles are racking up. We're getting good loads with long hauls. I'm running out my clock almost every night. Last night got to final with just 1 minute left on the drive line. Previous 2 were at 3 minutes and 4 minutes. That's really chewing up the 70 though. Already took one reset and will have to do another before I take CDL on June 11. Getting more comfortable in the truck and with the intricacies of operating in tight quarters, but I still need a lot of work before I get as good as I'd like to be. Backing has been fairly pain-free. Although my trainer spots for me, he usually drops a hint just about the same time I think of the same move to make, so getting out and looking once I'm on my own will be my guide. I'm still diggin' the gig, except for the HoS baloney.

 

Not a productive week, miles-wise. Started out good with a run fron Eden to MA, and got lucky enough to snag a return load of dunnage right back to Eden from there. Had a couple warning lights on this brand spankin' new T680 during the return trip and then had to sit around at Cooper Kenworth in Greensboro NC for a couple days for warranty service. Then we finally got to Trenton on June 7 just about the same time others were coming in looking for loads. Since my CDL test is scheduled for June 11, they sent us home to the trainer's spread to hole up until June 9 so we can be properly trip-planned to coincide with my test. Trainer was worried about me missing a few days of pay, but I'm more concerned about his paycheck as he's the one with a family at home relying on him. Looking forward to getting past the CDL test so we can run like raped apes if the freight is available.

I'm not fretting about downtime, as I have a second income I work from the laptop, and have been able to do so every time the wheels have stopped moving for any extended time. So far. But for those who are using this as a sole income to support your loved ones, I feel for ya.

Still lovin' this life. Wish I made the switch a couple tears ago. My overall stress levels have hit rock bottom, I'm eating right and getting plenty of exercise, and have lost 13 lbs since I started class in Trenton less than two months ago. Almost back to fightin' weight!

Keep on keepin' on, and may the Gods of Freight smile upon you.

 

Well I passed my CDL test today. Feels good to get over the hump, but you'd think for $175.00 I'd be able to walk out with an actual license I can drive solo on. But nooooo. Gotta visit the ONLY driver's licensing center in PA that interfaces with this particular testing site. Of course, it's located about 45 minutes away from the test site and it was already the end of the day. So we're stuck here til tomorrow morning to take care of that. Meanwhile, the gods of freight are tapping their feet impatiently. As am I. 8900 miles to go to 15K. One would also think that for $175.00, the test site would have the courtesy to clue you in about the need to stop somewhere else to seal the deal when you're setting up the test appointment.

That said, the examiner (Wendy) was awesome and very complimentary about the various Millis trainees and Millis equipment she's seen. She said I pretty much aced the pre-trip, backing skills, and brake tests. Out on the road, she took me through a lot of tight turns (slide yer tandems to the 40 ft mark or forward!!!) and threw a few trick questions at me. She did say I need to do a bit more traffic eyeballing while going through intersections, but I was eyeballing all the time. I just wasn't verbalizing it. I highly recommend active commentary driving during your road test. As far as backing skills, I did: pull up to the line, straight backing, and blindside parallel. Yeah, the tough ones. Their parallel box was about 120ft long, about 30 ft longer than we learned on at Trenton. The facility really doesn't have enough room to set up any other maneuvers. She said she always looks forward to Millis students on the pre-trip stuff because we're trained so well. Credit Bill in Trenton for that. And big props to my trainer for doing his best to correct the few bad habits I exhibit from time to time and properly preparing me for the skills test.

I went to Long Bus Service in Philipsburg PA for the test, and I'd highly recommend them to any trainee from PA. Just make sure you book your test earlier than noon so you have time to run down the road to get the follow up paperwork done before 3pm.

Be safe out there!!!

 

The wheels keep turning. Well over half way to my 15K. Since I got my CDL last week we went from St. Marys PA to Toano VA, Toano to Albany GA, Albany to Eden, Eden to Trenton, back to Eden, and just pulled in to customer in Randolph MA. Easy to lose track of the date out here. Trying to keep in touch with guys I was in class with, but they are on their own routes and schedules.

Still getting on well with my trainer. Our challenge now is to get me about 6500 miles over the next 16 days before he takes his 4th of July hometime; Hoping to be able to consider that as my own Independence Day ay Millis.

Be safe, and be well.

 

Been a while since I posted, so here's the scoop: Finished up my 15 the week of July 4. Tried to get to Trenton to test out with Bill on the 3rd but got hung up overnight in Atlanta. Being a long holiday weekend, we ended up waiting til the 8th. Not being one to hang out at a terminal for 4 days, I rented a car and drove to Florida to visit friends.

So after testing out, I got awarded 'my own' truck. It's a T700, #2054. Whoever had it before me must have chain smoked with the windows up, cuz it reeked. No matter, I took the rest of that day and defunkified the driving, sleeping & eating areas. Still have a lot of scrubbing to do, but it's liveable for now.

First week solo went like so: Trenton to East Syracuse to Niagra Falls to Neenah WI to Marion WI to Clinton SC to Columbia SC to Calhoun GA to Atlanta and back to Trenton. Currently sitting in Atlanta and will leave for Trenton in the morning. By then, my 70 will be gone. All told, 3423 paid miles. Suits me just fine.

Looking back over this journey since I started class, I am quite satisfied with the results. Some tips for those who've been following along wondering if this life is for them:

You WILL learn to plan ahead. You WILL hate Hours of Service. You WILL juggle a lot of things in your mind all at once. You WILL get tired every day. You WILL like it if you can stand your own company. You WILL learn to despise (some) car drivers. You WILL get sweaty and dirty messing around with trailers and such. I'm sure there's more, but I'm kinda tired right now.

On the more practical side, you'll be a lot happier if you have some money set aside to help pay the bills while you're in class and with a trainer. I was fortunate in that department, so I never worried like some might.

Anyway, that's about the size of things from my POV. "Actual mileage may vary."
So good luck and stay safe out there!